Computer-implemented method for generating or updating topology model of pressure pipe network

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method, computer program product and computing system for management of a pressure pipe network is provided. A processor retrieves a topology model of a pipe network. The processor retrieves one or more measurement expressions of the pressure pipe network. The processor determines a parameter list for a first measurement expression, wherein a first parameter of the parameter list represents a cutting point measurement device. The processor generates a first subsystem of the pipe network based, at least in part on, the first parameter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of pipe networksand, more particularly, to management of a pipe network.

A pressure pipe network is a network system that consists of a number ofinterconnected pipes through which fluid flows. Examples of pipenetworks include, but not limited to, water distribution networks, oiltransportation systems and gas transportation systems. Usually, asidefrom the pipes, a pressure pipe network also comprises a set of otherfacilities that control the flow of the fluid, monitor and collect data,and make measurements of specific properties of the network. Forexample, a water distribution network is composed of a set ofinterconnected water treatment works, mains, customer connections andhydrants, with flow meters deployed on water mains to measure volumes ofwater that flows into a main and water usage meters to customerconnections to measure water usage for a particular customer account.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a computer-implementedmethod, system and computing system. A processor retrieves a topologymodel of a pipe network. The processor retrieves one or more measurementexpressions of the pressure pipe network. The processor determines aparameter list for a first measurement expression, wherein a firstparameter of the parameter list represents a cutting point measurementdevice. The processor generates a first subsystem of the pipe networkbased, at least in part on, the first parameter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a networkedenvironment, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 illustrates operational processes of a modeling programdetermining one or more subsystems of a pipe system, on a computingdevice within the environment of FIG. 1, in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates operational processes of a modeling program updatingan expression for one or more subsystems in response to a change to apipe system, on a computing device within the environment of FIG. 1, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A-4C illustrate example diagrams of a pipe system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example visual presentation of a pipe system andsubsystems.

FIG. 6 depicts a block diagram of components of the computing deviceexecuting a modeling program, in accordance with an exemplary embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference tothe Figures. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating networkedenvironment, generally designated 100, in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention. Networked environment 100 includes computingdevice 110 connected over network 120. Computing device 110 includesmodeling program 112, topology data 114, and expression data 116.

In various embodiments of the present invention, computing device 110 isa computing device that can be a standalone device, a server, a laptopcomputer, a tablet computer, a netbook computer, a personal computer(PC), or a desktop computer. In another embodiment, computing device 110represents a computing system utilizing clustered computers andcomponents to act as a single pool of seamless resources. In general,computing device 110 can be any computing device or a combination ofdevices with access to topology data 114, and expression data 116 and iscapable of executing modeling program 112. Computing device 110 mayinclude internal and external hardware components, as depicted anddescribed in further detail with respect to FIG. 6.

In this exemplary embodiment, modeling program 112, topology data 114,and expression data 116 are stored on computing device 110. However, inother embodiments, modeling program 112, topology data 114, andexpression data 116 may be stored externally and accessed through acommunication network, such as network 120. Network 120 can be, forexample, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) such asthe Internet, or a combination of the two, and may include wired,wireless, fiber optic or any other connection known in the art. Ingeneral, network 120 can be any combination of connections and protocolsthat will support communications between computing device 110 and otherdevices (not shown) connected to network 120, in accordance with adesired embodiment of the present invention.

In various embodiments, modeling program 112 retrieves topology data 114from computing device 110. Topology data 114 includes a model of pipesand connections in a pipe system. As discussed herein, the inventionwill be described with water distribution network as an example pipesystem, however, it should be understood that the invention can beapplied to any other kind of pressure pipe network, such as a naturalgas distribution network. The model for a pipe system includes, but isnot limited to, the location of a pipe that a resource travels, orflows, within the pipe system; a direction the flow of a resourcetravels with a pipe or pathway at a given time; an amount of resourcethat flows through a pipe at a given time; and a capacity a pipe canhandle of the resource. In addition to the description of pipes of thenetwork, the model includes one or more connection between pipes in thenetwork. For example, a connection includes a location where one or morepipes intersect and are connected. In some embodiments, topology data114 includes a description and location of one or more other componentsof the pipe system. For example, a model for a water pipe systemincludes the location and capacity of a water reservoir.

In various embodiments, topology data 114 includes the location ofmeasurement devices, in addition to data collected by the measurementdevices. For example, a location of a flow meter in a water pipe systemis included in the model. Additionally, the model includes an amount offlow monitored by the flow meter for various different points in time(e.g., an amount of flow for a month for the last six months). Invarious embodiments, topology data 114 includes a model for a pipesystem that is divided into multiple zones, or subsystems. In someinstances a subsystems may be a district metered area (DMA), which arediscrete areas of a water distribution network. For a given subsystem,resources flowing into and out of the subsystem are captured bymeasurement devices along the boundaries of the subsystem. In someembodiments, a measurement device is located at the boundary of onesubsystem and another. In such embodiments, the measurement device isreferred to as a cutting point device. In various embodiments, asubsystem may include an area such as a town or village, a neighborhood,a building or certain floors of the building.

In various embodiments, modeling program 112 retrieves expression data116 from computing device 110. Expression data 116 includes one or moremeasurement expressions describing a pipe system. A measurementexpression includes variables for one or more measurement devices. Forexample, a “system input volume” (SIV) is a measurement expression forone or more subsystems. The SIV is defined as the sum of allmeasurements of flow meters deployed as input measurement devices of asubsystem. Then a sum of all measurements of output mains of thesubsystem are subtracted from the flow monitored by all input device. Assuch, SIV can be expressed as:

${{System}\mspace{14mu}{Input}\mspace{14mu}{{Volume}({SIV})}} = {{\sum\limits_{n = 1}^{i}I_{n}} - {\sum\limits_{m = 1}^{j}O_{m}}}$

In the above equation, I_(n) represent the measurements of flow meters(I₁ to I_(i)) of inputs to a pipe system. O_(m) represent themeasurements of flow meters (O₁ to O_(j)) of outputs from the pipesystem (e.g., outbound connections to other subsystems and usagemeters).

Using the above expression, a measurement expression for water leakageof a subsystem is defined as SIV minus the water usage of usage metersfor end customers of the subsystem. As such, leakage for a subsystem canbe expressed as:

${Leakage} = {{SIV} - {\sum\limits_{l = 1}^{k}U_{l}}}$

In the above equation, SIV is the system input volume calculated above.U₁ represent the measurements of flow meters (U₁ to U_(k)) of meters forthe end customers located within the subsystem.

It should be understood by the skilled in the art that theabove-described measurement expressions are only for the purpose ofillustration, other kinds of measurement expressions can also be usedwithout departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

When changes to a pipe system or a subsystem are made to (e.g., adding anew pipe together with a measurement device or removing a pipe),modeling program 112 updates the change to topology data 114. Suchchanges may impact the measurement expressions stored in expression data116. Previous solutions perform manual updates manually to measurementexpressions and the variables to reflect such changes. Embodiments ofthe present invention recognize that by automatically changing andupdating the measurement expressions in expression data provides a fastand more accurate update than previous solutions.

The method of determining one or more subsystems of a pipe system,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, will be describedin detail with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a flow diagram depicting amethod 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

At process 202, modeling program 112 retrieves topology data 114describing a a pressure pipe network. The topology data 114 includes amodel description which describes the layout and metrics of the pipenetwork. In some embodiments, topology data 114 may be retrieved fromEnterprise Assets Management (EAM) system (not shown) or a SupervisoryControl and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system (not shown). The descriptionmay be in a markup language format (e.g., an XML (eXtensive MarkupLanguage)) file that describes the pipe network. In various embodiments,modeling program 112 generates a pipe network diagram based on thetopology data 114. FIG. 4A-C shows an example of a simplified waterdistribution network diagram. In some embodiments, modeling program 112retrieves topology data 114 periodically in order to use the mostupdated information.

At process 204, modeling program 112 retrieves one or more measurementexpressions stored in expression data 116. Examples of measurementexpressions include but are not limited to system input volume andleakage. At process 206, modeling program 112 extracts a parameter listfor each measurement expression. Parameters includes measurements andother descriptors of the pipe system (e.g., the amount of flow of aresource at a given location in the pipe system). In some embodiments, ameasurement expression includes variable for a measurement or collectionof measurements indicating measurements of boundary sensors of asubsystem (e.g., incoming and outgoing flow of a resource into and outof the subsystem). In other embodiments, a measurement expressionincludes variable indicating measurements of other sensors (e.g.,measurements of end customer meters), which typically are not boundarysensors. In some embodiments, at least part of one of the parameters ineach list represent the boundary sensors. In such embodiments, modelingprogram 112 combines the input boundary measurement device of onesubsystem with the output boundary measurement device of anothersubsystem, which will be referred to herein as cutting point measuringdevices. Modeling program 112 determines the location of the cuttingpoint measuring device and selects the location to serve as graphicalboundaries of different subsystems. Similarly, user meters will bereferred to herein as ending point metering equipments as they willserve as ending points inside a subsystem.

For example, for the measurement expression of leakage is expanded toinclude expressions for other variables (i.e., SVI) resulting in thefollowing expression:

${Leakage} = {{\sum\limits_{n = 1}^{i}I_{n}} - {\sum\limits_{m = 1}^{j}O_{m}} - {\sum\limits_{l = 1}^{k}U_{l}}}$

Using the above expanded equation, modeling program 112 creates anextracted parameter list for the measurement expression of leakage asthe following:List (Leakage)={(I ₁ ,I ₂ , . . . I _(i))−(O ₁ ,O ₂ , . . . O _(j))−(U ₁,U ₂ , . . . U ₁)}

In the above list, I₁, I₂, . . . I_(i) represent flow meters deployed oninput mains. O₁, O₂, . . . O_(j) represent flow meters deployed onoutput mains. U₁, U₂, . . . U₁ represent water usage meters. In theextracted parameter list, I₁, I₂, . . . I_(i) and O₁, O₂, . . . O_(j)represent cutting point metering equipments, and U₁, U₂, . . . U₁represent ending point metering equipments. In the followingdescription, modeling program 112 combined the input mains and outputmains of connected subsystems to create, M₁, M₂, . . . , M₁ whichrepresent cutting point metering equipments (i.e., I₁, I₂, I_(i) thatconnect to a respective and O₁, O₂, . . . O_(j)).

Referring to FIG. 4A as an example, suppose the parameter listsextracted from system input volume measurement expression are asfollows:List (System Input Volume 1)={M₃,M₄}List (System Input Volume 2)={M₄}List (System Input Volume 3)={M₁,M₂}List (System Input Volume 4)={M₃}

FIG. 4B shows the cutting point metering equipments M₁ 411, M₂ 412, M₃413 and M₄ 414 in the above extracted parameter lists. In FIG. 4B, onlycutting point metering equipments are shown for the purpose ofsimplification. The ending point (e.g., customer usage meters)measurement devices are not shown.

At process 208, modeling program 112 determines the subsystems of thepipe network. Modeling program 112 determines the boundaries of one ormore subsystems based on the extracted parameters of expression data 116determined to by representation of a boundary measurement device. (e.g.,M₁, M₂, . . . , M₁). Based on the location of the boundary measurementdevice of corresponding pair of matching input main and output main,modeling program 112 generates a graphical boundary of each subsystem.According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, modeling program112 constructs boundaries of a subsystem with the location of a cuttingpoint measurement devices serving as a graphical boundary of thesubsystem.

FIG. 4C shows the constructed subsystems, and corresponding boundaries,generated by modeling program 112 determined in process 208. Forexample, cutting point measurement devices M₁ and M₂ are extracted fromexpression data 116. Modeling program 112 retrieves the locations of M₁and M₂ from topology data 114. The locations of cutting points M₁ and M₂are determined to be the graphical boundary of DMA3 423. The location ofinput main water main 402 and cutting point M₃ 413 serve as thegraphical boundary of DMA4 424. Furthermore DMA4 424 includes additionalsubsystems DMA 2 422 and DMA1 421. The location of cutting pointmetering equipment M₄ 414 serve as the graphical boundary of DMA2 422.The location of cutting point metering equipment M₄ 414 and M₃ 413 serveas the graphical boundary of DMA1 421. The extent of the coverage of agiven subsystem is further based on the location of end customermeasurement devices and the corresponding locations of said end customermeasurement devices.

The method of updating an expression for one or more subsystems inresponse to a change to a pipe system, according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure, will be described in detail with reference to FIG.3. FIG. 3 is a flow diagram depicting a method 300 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, modeling program 112 receives an update to topologydata 114 in response to a change being made to the pipe network (process302). In response to the change to topology data being detected,modeling program 112 determines if the changes will impact one or moresubsystems (process 304). If the change does not impact any subsystemsor the respective measurement expressions associated with the subsystem(NO branch of process 304), then modeling program 112 keeps the currentexpression data 116. If the change impacts one or more subsystems or therespective measurement expressions associated with the impactedsubsystem (YES branch of process 304), then modeling program 112 updatesthe respective expression data for the impacted subsystem. Modelingprogram 112 updates the measurement expressions of the impactedsubsystems if the analysis determines that the change will impact one ormore subsystems (process 306). For example, if modeling program 112detects that a new pipe connected to one or more pipes inside asubsystem is added, modeling program 112 determines that the change willimpact the subsystem. Then, modeling program 112 updates the measurementexpression of the impacted subsystem.

As an example, a change is made to topology data 114 in which a new pipeis added to the pipe network. Upon retrieving updated topology data 114,modeling program 112 detects a change to the model of the pipe network.Then, modeling program 112 determines whether the change impacts one ormore subsystems of the pipe network. Modeling program 112 analyzes thediagram of the pipe network. If it is detected that the newly added pipeconnects to a pipe inside a subsystem, modeling program 112 determinesthat change will impact the given subsystem. For example, a newly addedpipe connects to a pipe inside a subsystem usually comprises one of twodifferent kinds of scenarios. One scenario is that a pipe is added fromoutside to inside the subsystem or vice versa, which usually means a newinput/output pipe is connected. As such, the direction of the change isfurther identified and measurement expression is further updated basedon the direction of the change. For example, if it is identified thatthe direction of the change is an input to the subsystem, themeasurement expression of system input volume, as consequently theleakage of the subsystem, is updated by adding the measurement of themetering equipment of the new added input pipe. Similarly, if it isidentified that the direction of the change is an output of thesubsystem, the measurement expressions of the system input volume,consequently the leakage of the subsystem, should be updated bysubtracting the measurement of the metering equipment of the new addedoutput pipe. Another scenario is that a pipe is added inside asubsystem, which usually means a new end user pipe is connected. Thenthe measurement expression of leakage should be updated by subtractingthe measurement of the metering equipment of the new added user pipe.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, modeling program 112generates a visual representation of the pipe system and comprisingsubsystems, wherein the boundaries of the subsystems are the cuttingpoint metering equipments represented by the parameters in expressionsdata 116. Hence, the boundaries of a subsystem in the visualrepresentation are also updated with the metering equipment andassociated newly added pipe(s). In addition to the topographicalgraphical representations of a pipe system and corresponding subsystems,some embodiments of modeling program 112 generate a logical graphicalrepresentations of the pipe system. FIG. 5 illustrates a logicalrepresentation, 500, of the example pipe system discussed with FIG. 4.Water main 502 represents a source of a water resource. Logicalrepresentation 500 includes cutting point metering equipments M₁ 511, M₂512, M₃ 513 and M₄ 514 represented as junction points. Logicalrepresentation 500 includes DMA1 521, DMA2 522, DMA3 523 and DMA4 524represent as boxes where subsystems of a given system reside within theparent system (e.g., DMA1 521 and DMA2 522 are grouped in the box forDMA4 524). The direction of arrows stands for the direction of the flowof the pipe network and the connection between subsystems. It should benoted that FIG. 5 is only an example logical representation ofsubsystems, other possible visual presentations could also be used.

FIG. 6 depicts a block diagram, 600, of components of computing device110, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention. It should be appreciated that FIG. 6 provides only anillustration of one implementation and does not imply any limitationswith regard to the environments in which different embodiments may beimplemented. Many modifications to the depicted environment may be made.

Computing device 110 includes communications fabric 602, which providescommunications between computer processor(s) 604, memory 606, persistentstorage 608, communications unit 610, and input/output (I/O)interface(s) 612. Communications fabric 602 can be implemented with anyarchitecture designed for passing data and/or control informationbetween processors (such as microprocessors, communications and networkprocessors, etc.), system memory, peripheral devices, and any otherhardware components within a system. For example, communications fabric602 can be implemented with one or more buses.

Memory 606 and persistent storage 608 are computer-readable storagemedia. In this embodiment, memory 606 includes random access memory(RAM) 614 and cache memory 616. In general, memory 606 can include anysuitable volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage media.

Modeling program 112, topology data 114, and expression data 116 arestored in persistent storage 608 for execution and/or access by one ormore of the respective computer processors 604 via one or more memoriesof memory 606. In this embodiment, persistent storage 608 includes amagnetic hard disk drive. Alternatively, or in addition to a magnetichard disk drive, persistent storage 608 can include a solid state harddrive, a semiconductor storage device, read-only memory (ROM), erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, or any othercomputer-readable storage media that is capable of storing programinstructions or digital information.

The media used by persistent storage 608 may also be removable. Forexample, a removable hard drive may be used for persistent storage 608.Other examples include optical and magnetic disks, thumb drives, andsmart cards that are inserted into a drive for transfer onto anothercomputer-readable storage medium that is also part of persistent storage608.

Communications unit 610, in these examples, provides for communicationswith other data processing systems or devices, including resources ofnetwork 120. In these examples, communications unit 610 includes one ormore network interface cards. Communications unit 610 may providecommunications through the use of either or both physical and wirelesscommunications links. Modeling program 112, topology data 114, andexpression data 116 may be downloaded to persistent storage 608 throughcommunications unit 610.

I/O interface(s) 612 allows for input and output of data with otherdevices that may be connected to computing device 110. For example, I/Ointerface 612 may provide a connection to external devices 618 such as akeyboard, keypad, a touch screen, and/or some other suitable inputdevice. External devices 618 can also include portable computer-readablestorage media such as, for example, thumb drives, portable optical ormagnetic disks, and memory cards. Software and data used to practiceembodiments of the present invention, e.g., modeling program 112,topology data 114, and expression data 116, can be stored on suchportable computer-readable storage media and can be loaded ontopersistent storage 608 via I/O interface(s) 612. I/O interface(s) 612also connect to a display 620.

Display 620 provides a mechanism to display data to a user and may be,for example, a computer monitor, or a television screen.

The programs described herein are identified based upon the applicationfor which they are implemented in a specific embodiment of theinvention. However, it should be appreciated that any particular programnomenclature herein is used merely for convenience, and thus theinvention should not be limited to use solely in any specificapplication identified and/or implied by such nomenclature.

It is to be noted that the term(s) “Smalltalk” and the like may besubject to trademark rights in various jurisdictions throughout theworld and are used here only in reference to the products or servicesproperly denominated by the marks to the extent that such trademarkrights may exist.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:retrieving, by one or more processors, a topology model of a pipenetwork; retrieving, by the one or more processors, a measurement from afirst boundary sensor of the pipe network; retrieving, by the one ormore processors, a measurement from a second boundary sensor of the pipenetwork; in response to the measurements of the first and secondboundary sensors matching flow amounts of a resource, combining, by theone or more processors, the first and second boundary sensors as arepresentation of a cutting point measurement device in the topologymodel of the pipe network; retrieving, by the one or more processors,one or more measurement expressions of the pipe network; determining, bythe one or more processors, a parameter list for a first measurementexpression, wherein a first parameter of the parameter list represents acutting point measurement device; generating, by the one or moreprocessors, a first subsystem of the pipe network based, at least inpart on, the first parameter and generating, by the one or moreprocessors, a visual representation of a boundary of the firstsubsystem, based, at least in part, on a location of the cutting pointmeasurement device.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a second parameterof the parameter list represents an ending point measurement device. 3.The method of claim 1, further comprising: responsive to a determinationthat a change in the topology model of the pipe network impacts a secondsubsystem of the pipe network, updating, by the one or more processors,a second measurement expression of the second subsystem, wherein thesecond measurement expression includes one or more parameters describingthe second subsystem of the pipe network.
 4. The method of claim 3,further comprising: updating, by the one or more processors, the secondmeasurement expression based, at least in part, on a change in directionto at least one flow measurement of the second subsystem of the pipenetwork.
 5. The method of claim 3, further comprising: updating, by theone or more processors, the first measurement expression and the secondmeasurement expression based, at least in part, on the change in thetopology model of the pipe network includes a new connection to thefirst subsystem and the second subsystem.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein a new parameter is added to the parameter list representing thenew connection.